The Project Gutenberg EBook of Puss Junior and Robinson Crusoe, by David Cory

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JACK SPRAT ONE day as little Puss, Junior, was traveling through New Mother Goose country, he came to a funny little house all covered with rose vines, even up to the top of the small red chimney they grew in crimson splendor. And as Puss stopped to look at the pretty sight, a tiny blue bird in a cage on the front porch began to sing: "Jack Sprat had a pig, Who was not very big; He was not very lean He was not very fat; 'He'll do for a grunt ' ,

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Says little Jack Sprat. " "Oh, ho," thought Puss, and he turned into the yard and walked around to the little red barn. There stood Jack Sprat himself, leaning against the sty, watching his pig eat his dinner. Well, just then, all of a sudden, a swarm of golden bees came humming into the little farmyard, and before long they had made a home in the empty beehive that stood close by.

"You have brought me luck," said little Jack Sprat, turning to Puss. "Now I shall have honey, and with bees and a pig I shall grow rich and supply all Mother Goose Country with good things to eat." And would you believe it, the pig began to grow fat, and the bees to buzz out of the hive and wing their way over to the roses for sweets with which to make their honey. Then Jack Sprat asked Puss to come into his little house, and when he went to the cupboard to look for bread and butter, he found all kinds of good things to eat. "What luck you have brought me," said little Jack Sprat, but Puss was as much surprised as he. But pretty soon when they had sat down to the table, they heard a strange little voice from the hearth, and looking down they saw a tiny black cricket, who began to sing: "I'm just a little cricket, But if you'll let me stay Within your house this winter You will not rue the day." "It is the little cricket that brings you luck," said truthful little Puss, Junior. And then Jack Sprat began to laugh happily, for up to this time the pig was the only thing he owned, and that wasn't very much, let me tell you. Oh, dear, no. Not in

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these hard times when eggs are worth their weight in gold and a gallon of milk costs a ton of silver. Well, by and by, Puss, Junior, once more went on his way, and perhaps pretty soon he'll find his father, the famous Puss in Boots, unless, A great big husky giant Jumps into a trolley car, And turns the coin box upside down To see how many nickels there are.

THE YELLOW HEN WsaIfaeyecra,ghtintredhemirotss,ylehtsausPJs,liolettEskyghuabiLL,mujt'ndidtnaigllrothettoinpr,kunioupheptaecrsisrihhofs dear father until late in the evening when he came to a city on Goosey Gander River. For the moment I've forgotten the name, but if I remember it I will tell you later. At any rate, it won't matter much, for Puss didn't stay there long. Well, as I was saying, he entered the city, tired and hungry, for he had traveled far that day, and as he walked up the brightly lighted street he heard a man say: "Saw ye aught of my love a-coming from the Opera? Around her throat a string of pearls, And on her neck two little curls; Saw ye aught of my love a-coming from the Opera? "My good man, I'm a stranger and have just arrived. I have seen no string of pearls nor little curls on any pretty little girls," answered Puss wearily, for he was too anxious to find a night's lodging to notice pearls and curls. "Dear me!" sighed the man, and he took off his opera hat and flattened it and then snapped it out again, which made a little newsboy open his eyes and say, "Do it again, Mister; it sounds like a pistol." But the man wouldn't, so the little newsboy ran off and Puss turned away, for he had no time to be talking to operagoers at that time of evening. By and by he came to a narrow street at the end of which shone a little light. So he turned down and presently found himself in front of a little house. In the hammock on the front porch sat a pretty yellow hen, swinging back and forth, and every now and then singing to herself: "It's after ten! It's after ten! Time for bed for Yellow Hen." "Good evening!" said Puss, taking off his plumed hat and bowing politely. "May I ask for a night's lodging. I'm tired and footsore, and have traveled many miles in New Mother Goose Country." The little Yellow Hen flapped her wings and fluttered down to the piazza. "Come," she said, stretching out her right wing. "Travelers are always welcome. We hear little down at the end of this narrow street. Tell me some news, my good Sir Cat."

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"Are you sure you are not too sleepy?" asked Puss. "It was only a few minutes ago you were singing 'It's after ten, it's after ten; time for bed for Yellow Hen!'" But the little hen only laughed and said, "I must wait up for Mr. Rooster." "He's the Cock at early dawn Who blows on the Mayor's auto horn To wake the city and stir the men To be up and at their work again." Just then a gaily feathered rooster walked up the steps, but what he said I shall have to tell you in the next story, for it's so late now that I must say good-night.

DICKORY DARE PIG OU remember, I hope, where I left off in the last story—just as the rooster Yat the end of the narrow street wherecame up the steps of the little house Puss, Junior, was making a call on the little Yellow Hen. Well, he was very much surprised to see our small traveler, but nevertheless he was most polite. He stretched forth his right wing to shake hands when, all of a sudden, Dickory, dickory, dare, The pig flew up the stair, A very funny thing to do, And made the rooster doodle-doo. "Gracious me! Oh me, Oh my!" screamed the little Yellow Hen. "That awful pig will just spoil my stair carpet." This made the rooster all the more angry at the Dickory Dare Pig, as he called him, and he strutted across the piazza. "I'll spur him when he comes down," he said, and he waited at the front door. But Mr. Pig took no chances. He staid upstairs until the little Yellow Hen began to cry. "I want to go to bed." Puss, by this time, was also very sleepy, and the gaily feathered rooster—well, I think he was half asleep, as he stood by the front door, with his head tucked under his wing. "He'll forget to crow in the early morn; And little Boy Blue with his silver horn Is always asleep, so what shall I do If my Rooster sleeps the whole night through?

"

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"It's time for me to do something," exclaimed Puss, Junior, whipping out his sword and running upstairs two at a time. But, would you believe it if I told you, he couldn't find the Dickory Dare Pig anywhere? Puss looked in every room and in every closet. He even lifted the cover of the big clothes hamper that stood in the bathroom, but Mr. Pig was not to be found. Well, after a while, Puss looked out of the window. There on the roof of the porch was the Dickory Dare Pig. "What are you doing?" asked Puss, and he waved his sword threateningly. But the Pig only grunted. "You people downstairs are making an awful fuss," and he closed his eyes again, he was so sleepy. And, anyway, he had a very nice soft place, for he had spread a big woolen comforter on the roof for a bed. "Well, you get out of here," said Puss. "You have no right to take the Yellow Hen's nice comforter, nor have you any right to sleep on the roof, and if you don't go I'll stick my sword in you." Well, after that, the Pig ran downstairs and out of the front door, and maybe he's running yet, if a butcher hasn't caught him and made him into little sausages.

THROUGH THE FOREST YOUrereatfzz,aoofthfYeeowllneHfs'tnoraipeDickoryDarePigegtfofhteororsttassusPy,tsujdahhtedamerwmembwelhenfoffetehlnitwhich the gaily feathered rooster and the Yellow Hen and Puss, Junior, went to sleep, which they couldn't do before on account of that dreadful pig snoring. Well, he never came back, for he was so afraid of Puss, Junior's, sword, that he kept on running until he lost his shadow, spent a year and a day hunting for it, and after that he sat down and rested. The next morning bright and early, just as the sun was waking up in the

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East, the gaily feathered Rooster began to blow his silver horn to wake the people before the morn, and some got cross when they heard his song, but others hurried their dressing along, and pretty soon Puss was dressed and the little Yellow Hen combed her feathers and came down to breakfast. And while they were at the table, the Rooster came in and said: "There was an old woman, as I've heard tell, Who went to market her eggs to sell. As she went to market her eggs to sell On the asphalt pavement she slipped and fell. Then came a policeman whose name was Stout, When he saw all the eggs lying strewn about, He said, 'What is this, a river of eggs Too bad, my old woman, you slipped on your legs!' Then he helped the little old woman to stand, And placing a new dollar bill in her hand, He said, 'My old woman, don't scramble your eggs On the pavement again by losing your legs.'" "I'll never let her take my eggs to market," said the Yellow Hen, and the Rooster flapped his wings and crowed, he was so glad. And after that Puss, Junior, said good-by and went upon his journey, and by and by he came to a forest. Now this forest was full of bold robbers, but Puss didn't know that, so he walked in and by and by he came to a little hut. From the chimney a thin gray feather of smoke slowly made its way up through the tall tree tops, and around the front door climbed a wild vine. Puss went up boldly and knocked and when the door opened he saw a fox. At first he was somewhat frightened, but the fox said, "Come in, Sir Cat," so our little traveler entered and sat down. Then the fox asked him where he was going. "To see my dear father, the famous Puss in Boots," replied little Puss, Junior. "It's not very far from here," answered the fox, "but the way is dangerous. Many robbers lie in wait for the unwary traveler." I have my trusty sword," cried Puss, "I'm not afraid." " "Well, since you are so brave, I will help you," said the fox; "I know a way and will show you how you may escape the robbers " .

A TURTLE AND A FISH AS I told you in the last story, the Fox promised to help Puss and pretty soon he led him out of the little log house and through a thick undergrowth of young timber until they came to a river. "Now, the robbers will never think for a moment that you would travel by water," said the Fox with a

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grin. "Here is a little boat," and he pushed aside the bushes behind which lay a rowboat with a pair of oars. As Puss got in, the Fox gave him some parting directions. "Follow the stream until you come to a lake. Then leave your boat and follow the right bank until you come to a bridge. After that you will find the highway which will take you to the castle of my Lord of Carabas, where your famous father, Puss in Boots, lives." "Thank you, my good friend," cried our little hero, pushing off from the shore, and in a few minutes he was gliding down the stream. "Heigh-ho!" he sighed. "This is a new way to travel, but I have had many experiences, so why not a rowboat instead of a gander or an automobile," and he bent to his rowing and by and by he came to a bend in the river, and as it was late in the afternoon, he decided to land and camp for the night. But no sooner had he landed on the bank than a large turtle came up to him and said: "This is Turtle Island. No one is allowed to land unless he has a permit." Of course, little Puss, Junior, didn't have one, but after a moment's reflection, he said: "I am about to visit my father, the famous Puss in Boots, and if I cannot remain here for the night, I may have an accident on the river. Please let me stay." "Very well," said the Turtle, scratching his head, "you may remain on my island," and then he crawled away to his own house on the hill, which Puss could see in the distance. I think the Turtle was a disagreeable sort of person not to have asked our little traveler to spend the night with him, but then, you know, there are some disagreeable people even in New Mother Goose Country, and the Turtle was one of them. The next morning, bright and early, Puss, Junior, got up and cooked his breakfast, and then he jumped into his rowboat and started off and by and by, as he was gliding along, a big fish came up to the surface and said, "Helloa, there!" At first Puss was startled, for he didn't see the fish, but as soon as he did, he replied: "Don't get in my way! I might push my oar in your eye." This made the fish laugh so hard that he cried, and after that he laughed some more, only he didn't cry that time. "Where are you going?" he asked. "To the castle of my Lord of Carabas," replied Puss. "A long journey, my brave little cat," said the fish, "but keep up a brave heart. You are already more than half way across New Mother Goose Country."

PUSS FINDS A SUPPER FJunior, traveled in his boat down the river andOR many days Puss, towards evening he heard a voice on the shore singing: